Sunday, November 1, 2020
Today we dey honour those holy men and women wey don go before us for faith, and wey do so in glorious way. As we dey honour these great champions of faith, make we reflect on who dem be and the role wey dem still dey play for the life of the Church. This passage come from Chapter 8 of My Catholic Faith!:
The Church Wey Don Win Victory: Those wey don go before us and now dey share for the glory of Heaven, for the Beatific Vision, no disappear. True, we no dey see dem, and we no fit always hear dem talk to us the same physical way wey dem dey do when dem dey for Earth. But dem no disappear at all. St. Thérèse of Lisieux talk am best when she say, “I want spend my life for Heaven dey do good for Earth.”
The saints for Heaven dey in full union with God, and na dem make up the Communion of Saints for Heaven, the Church Wey Don Win Victory! But wetin dey important to note be say, even though dem dey enjoy their reward wey go last forever, dem still care about us well-well.
God don give the saints for Heaven the important work to dey intercede for us. True, God don already know all our needs, and He fit ask us to come straight to Him for our prayers. But the truth be say God want use the intercession of the saints, and so their role as middle people, for our lives. He dey use dem to carry our prayers come meet Him and, in return, to bring His grace to us. Dem become powerful intercessors for us, and dem dey take part for the divine work wey God dey do for the world.
Why e be like this? Again, why God no just choose to deal with us directly instead of to pass through middle people? Na because God want make all of us share for His good work and take part for His divine plan. E be like papa wey buy fine necklace for im wife. E show im small children, and dem happy well-well about the gift. The mama enter, and the papa ask the children to carry the gift go give her. Now, na her husband the gift come from, but e dey likely say she go first thank her children because dem take part to give her this gift. The papa want make the children join for the giving, and the mama want make the children join for the way she receive the gift and show her thanks. Na so e be with God! God want make the saints share for the work of giving out His many different gifts. And this act dey fill His heart with joy!
The saints also show us example of holy life. The love of God and neighbour wey dem show for Earth still dey live on. The witness wey dem give through their love and sacrifice no be just something wey happen only once for history. Instead, this love still dey alive and e still dey bring good. So, the love and witness of the saints still dey live on and dey touch our lives. This love for their lives dey join us together with dem in communion. E dey help us to love dem, admire dem and want follow their example. Na this, together with their intercession wey still dey continue, dey form strong bond of love and union between us and dem.
Lord, as the saints for Heaven dey adore You forever, I beg make dem intercede for me. Saints of God, abeg come help me. Pray for me and bring me the grace wey I need to live holy life as I dey follow the example of una own lives. All saints of God, pray for us. Jesus, na You I trust.
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